Residence Hall Information

It is often said that approximately 80% of the learning by students during their college years takes place outside of the classroom. Much of this happens during interactions taking place between students in a residence hall. This handbook provides guidelines to make your stay in the residence halls comfortable. Included in this handbook you will find two sections of hall information. The first section consists of housing information that all students should be aware of and the second section lists policies and procedures as well as the disciplinary actions that may be taken for not following them. You will also find a list of people who play key roles and a list of offices to contact for more information or assistance in a variety of situations.

Diversity is the heart of Gallaudet’s community. People with diverse backgrounds bring with them differing styles of communication and living and new perspectives. In the residence halls at a small university such as Gallaudet, you will find a number of people with interests similar to your own. You will also find people who are more different than you expect. The diversity of appearances, beliefs, communication, and expectations is captivating, brilliant, and sometimes intimidating. Diversity offers a wide ‘curriculum’ of situations and occasions that fosters personal growth. This is why we, at the Office of Residence Life and Housing, work hard to create an environment in which friendships with all people, similar and dissimilar, can flourish. The aspiration of the Residence Life and Housing staff is to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding, where a student’s rights to a safe, clean, and comfortable home are respected.

We realize, of course, that even with these statements in place, conflicts may occur. While the residence hall environment can be a place that offers great opportunities for growth, it can also be challenging. The Office of Residence Life and Housing attempts to create and cultivate an environment which allows room for growth in the wake of conflict. We do this by encouraging respect for the rights of the individual weighed against the rights and interests of the community as a whole. Our preferred approach to developing responsible behavior by and among students is through balanced participation of all involved. We work to enhance student learning that offers creative opportunities for growth and empower those involved to resolve the immediate situation and make better future choices. Additionally, we work to develop the capacity of the community to collectively solve its problems. The more you, as a resident, can get involved with the people in your hall, fellow students, and staff, the more you will grow with your peers and have a positive experience in the residence hall and with the University.

RESIDENCE HALLS

Benson Hall – Built in 1972, Benson Hall was the second residence hall designed for co-ed living. Dedicated on March 30, 1973, it boasts nine floors that offer predominantly double rooms and some single rooms arranged along two U-shaped corridors. Benson Hall also has three apartments. Approximately 30 students live on each floor, making a building-wide occupancy of 244 students. Community bathrooms are located on each floor. Public areas include a large lobby, a TV, and a study lounge.

Clerc Hall – Built in 1971, Clerc Hall was the first co-ed building to boast suites. Eight floors high, it has 46 suites and four apartments. Each suite houses four students and contains two double rooms, a combined living and study room, and a bathroom. There are study and TV lounges on some floors. Clerc Hall houses a total of 171 students.

Carlin Hall – Built in 1979, this is the largest residence hall on campus. Carlin Hall is an eight-floor structure with a total of 80 suites with a variation of single rooms and multiple-person suites and seven apartments. A unique feature is that on odd-numbered floors there is a lounge with TVs and study tables with even numbered floors having a balcony, which looks down upon the lounge. Carlin houses a total of 238 students.

Ballard West – Built in 1965, this residence hall was designated for men, whereas Ballard North (a twin to Ballard West) was designated for women. Currently, Ballard West serves as a co-ed residence hall. It has four floors, with a central atrium and an open stairwell, consisting of single and double occupancy rooms and four apartments. Ballard West houses a total of 125 students.

Living and Learning Residence Hall 6 (LLRH6) – Built in 2012, LLRH6 is the first residence hall on campus built using DeafSpace design principles as well as providing new amenities never seen in residential facilities on campus such as community kitchens, a small fitness room, fireplace, and space on the first floor for the use by members of the community (collaboration room, multipurpose room, etc.). LLRH6 has five floors consisting of 46 suites and five apartments. Each suite contains two double rooms and a private bathroom. LLRH6 houses 163 students.

RESIDENCE HALL STAFF

All residence halls are staffed by the following:

Coordinator of Residence Education (CRE) – full-time professional staff who have the ultimate administrative responsibility for residence hall management, student budget management, hall programming, and paraprofessional program coordination.

Residence Hall Conduct Coordinator (RHCC) – full-time professional staff who are responsible for students’ conduct and disciplinary actions, hall programming, and marketing efforts.

Staff Residential Assistant (SRA) – full-time staff whose primary responsibilities involve monitoring entry into the residence hall and performing other office functions. SRAs work closely with fellow Residence Life staff members and the Department of Public Safety in maintaining the security of residence halls.

Graduate Assistant (GA) – paraprofessional staff who report to the CRE. GAs assists the CRE in the management of the residence halls, hall programming, and supervision of Resident Assistants.

Resident Assistant (RA)/Substitute Resident Assistant (SubRA) – paraprofessional staff who report directly to the CRE/GA. RAs are responsible for providing residence hall programming, performing administrative work, executing emergency procedures, and community development in the residence halls.

Senior Peer Advisor (SrPA)/Peer Advisor (PA) – paraprofessional staff who works closely with Counseling and Psychological Services to provide counseling and support services to students in the freshmen and upperclassmen residence halls.

Updated August 8, 2021